The unexpected death of Liam Payne, best known as a member of the global pop phenomenon One Direction, made headlines worldwide. The 31-year-old singer passed away in Argentina in October 2024, and recent reports confirm he died without leaving a Will.

Trusts play a crucial role in estate planning by safeguarding assets, managing tax obligations, and ensuring beneficiaries receive their inheritance according to specific wishes. At Kings Court Trust, we have extensive experience in estate administration, helping families navigate the complexities of these legal structures after death. This blog provides an overview of common Trusts and their implications.

Before the digital era, sentimental memories consisted of printed photographs, photo albums, postcards, scrapbooks, and certificates. Due to their tangible nature, these were easily retrievable by the loved ones of someone who had passed away. Fast-forward to today’s modern world where digital technology has become an integral part of our personal lives, people have now opted to store their sentimental memories online, for example, photos on social media and videos on cloud storage. Unfortunately, many do not consider what will happen to these digital assets upon death; accessing sentimental memories online can be a difficult task for loved ones to navigate without prior digital legacy planning.

Kings Court Trust is excited to announce the appointment of Paul Toghill as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from May 2025. Paul will succeed Simon Hancox, who will step down after a transitional period in order to focus on family priorities.

American actor, Gene Hackman, passed away in February 2025 at the age of 95. Hackman was a renowned, award-winning actor with a career spanning over four decades. He was best known for his work in Hoosiers, The French Connection, Superman, and The Royal Tenenbaums but has acting credits in over 100 films or TV shows, according to IMDB.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) opened 3,028 Inheritance Tax (IHT) investigations in the 2023-2024 tax year, recovering £285 million. This marks a significant decrease from the 5,537 investigations conducted in the 2018-2019 tax year, indicating a 45% reduction over five years. However, despite fewer investigations, the amount recovered per investigation has increased, suggesting that HMRC is taking a more targeted and effective enforcement approach. While the proportion of estates subject to IHT investigations has declined, the complexity of the tax continues to raise concerns. Many still argue that the Inheritance Tax is wrong, particularly as families navigating estate administration may not fully understand the risks of making costly mistakes

Due to more dynamic family structures and individuals increasingly owning more assets than ever before, it may not come as a surprise that inheritance disputes have been on the rise in recent years. Between 2023 and 2024, there was a 5% rise in court claims related to contested Wills with over 10,000 cases now reported each year. This blog looks at some common causes for inheritance disputes, what can be done to resolve them, and how to avoid them altogether.

When it comes to estate administration, dealing with shareholdings can be one of the most intricate tasks faced by the Executors or Personal Representatives (PRs) responsible for administering a deceased person's estate. Shares often come with a maze of administrative, financial, and legal hurdles that require specialist expertise to navigate efficiently. At Kings Court Trust, we understand these complexities and provide tailored support to ensure every estate is handled with precision and care. This blog delves into some of the common challenges of shareholdings in estate administration and how to address them effectively.

We are proud to unveil our new identity, reflecting not only a fresh visual update but also a renewed commitment to providing exceptional service and specialist support to our clients and partners.